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Campfire Popsicle Stick Craft for Kids

Do your kids love camping? This easy popsicle stick campfire craft is one of our summer craft ideas for kids. It is a simple and affordable project they can create at home or school.

In about 30 minutes, you can transform cardstock paper and craft sticks into an adorable little campfire. 

This craft is ideal for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary age children; however, younger children may need some assistance to complete this project.

Working on a craft provides an excellent opportunity to discuss topics with younger children. Whether talking about camping or fire safety, this campfire craft may help spark a conversation. 

Overhead view of a completed campfire craft made with popsicle sticks and colored cardstock. The fire also has a kawaii face.

Craft Stick Camping Fire Craft

This quick and easy popsicle stick campfire uses common craft supplies you may already have on hand and can be completed in less than 30 minutes (dry times may vary).

You can create this craft for kids at home, at a school, or at summer camp. It’s the perfect extension activity to work on after reading some of these children’s books about camping. It’s also a fun craft activity to include in:

  • a camping themed art center
  • a camping unit study
  • letter C crafts
  • camping or outdoorsy themed birthday party
  • lessons about fire safety

Younger children may also enjoy making a tissue paper fire craft. Kids of all ages can create a 3D coffee filter campfire craft to use for pretend play!

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Benefits of Making Campfire Crafts

Making campfire crafts with kids serves several developmental purposes. This activity promotes creativity and imagination and enhances hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

Plus, it is a fine motor activity for preschool and kindergarten children that provides practice in painting, tracing, cutting, and gluing.

Engaging in such crafts allows children to express themselves artistically while mastering different tools and materials, preparing them for more complex tasks and activities in the future.

Furthermore, it provides an invaluable opportunity for kids to learn about planning and problem-solving as they bring their creative visions to life.

Cute paper and popsicle stick campfire craft propped up and leaning against something decorative next to a fake plant.

More Popsicle Stick Crafts for Kids

Popsicle stick crafts offer a world of creativity and fun for kids, tapping into their imagination and developing fine motor skills.

These simple objects can be transformed into anything from miniature masterpieces to functional home decor, providing a budget-friendly and accessible way for children to explore their artistic side.

Engaging in such crafts entertains and educates, encouraging problem-solving and innovation in young minds.

Supplies needed for creating this campfire craft. Includes jumbo popsicle sticks, googly eyes, scissors, paint brush, brown paint, tan paint, red paper, orange paper, yellow paper, pink paper, black marker, and hot glue gun.

Campfire Popsicle Stick Craft Supplies

Younger children may need assistance with cutting out the fire shapes and using a glue gun. Older children may be able to complete this craft with minimal assistance.

I recommend using a hot glue gun because it makes the craft more durable, especially if used as a decoration.

However, if you are making these with younger children, you may want to use tacky craft glue (that’s my favorite one to use) instead. It will need additional drying time.

Shop some of my favorite craft supplies on Amazon!

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Campfire Craft

Start by gathering all of the supplies. Download, print and cut out the campfire craft template.

Using scissors, cut both rounded ends from only one jumbo craft stick. Then cut one rounded end from two jumbo craft sticks. (Please note: the logs will still look great if you skip cutting the ends off.)

Three craft sticks laying out showing where the ends were cut off with scissors.

Paint the jumbo craft sticks with a dark brown base coat. These will be the campfire logs. Let them dry and apply a second coat of paint, if necessary. 

Three popsicle craft sticks painted brown. Sticks are laying near paint brush and bottle of brown paint.

Once the log sticks are dry, use tan (or light brown) to paint circles on the remaining two rounded ends of the two jumbo craft sticks. Let them dry and apply a second coat if needed. 

Bottle of tan paint and paint brush near three dark brown craft sticks. Two sticks have a tan circle painted at opposite ends.

Please note: If you do not want to use paint, you can color the popsicle sticks using washable markers, crayons, or even colored pencils instead.

Draw random lines along the “logs” with a black marker to make it look like tree bark. Draw a spiral circle over the tan/light brown ends to look like tree rings. 

Black marker used to draw lines and swirls on the three brown painted popsicle craft sticks to make them look like logs.

Now, stack the three craft stick logs on top of each other in a criss cross pattern and glue them in place with a glue gun. You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.

The three log craft sticks arranged to look like the bottom of a camping fire. Hot glue gun is near them.

Trace the largest flame template onto the red cardstock. Trace the middle flame template onto the orange cardstock and trace the smallest flame template onto the yellow paper. 

Three different sized flame craft templates traced onto colored cardstock.

Cut out all three of the flame shapes.

Then layer the campfire flames on top of each other from largest in the back to smallest in the front. Use a glue stick to secure the layers in place. 

The orange paper flame is glued on top of the red flame. The yellow flame will be added next.

Next, flip the campfire logs over and attach the flames to the top edge of the unpainted back with a glue gun.

Hot gluing the paper flames to the back of the painted popsicle stick logs.

If you do not wish to give the fire an adorable kawaii face, stop here and the project is complete.

To make the cute face, trace the small circle cheek templates onto pink cardstock and cut them out.

Two small pink circles cut out of the pink cardstock paper. Scissors, black marker and rest of pink paper laying there.

Glue the pink cheeks on either side of the yellow flame with a glue stick. Then draw a smile on the campfire flame’s face from cheek to cheek with a black marker.

Paper and craft stick campfire craft with google eyes added and kawaii smile.

Finally, attach two large googly eyes to the campfire flame. Now you have a cute little campfire! 

finished popsicle stick campfire craft with cute kawaii face.

Fun Summer Crafts for Kids

Summer crafts are more than just a way to pass the time during the vacation. They provide a platform for children to express themselves creatively, enhance their motor skills, and create lasting memories.

These activities, coupled with the warm weather, make for a perfect summer experience that is both fun and educational.

Engaging Summer Activities for Kids

Summer is not just a season for relaxation and leisure; it provides plenty of learning opportunities and fun games for kids. This time of the year offers the perfect backdrop for engaging activities combining play and education.

Through imaginative play and interactive experiences, children can explore new concepts, sharpen their skills, and foster a love of learning that transcends the classroom, making every sunny day a chance for growth and discovery.

Top down view of completed campfire popsicle craft for kids. Craft laying down near artificial green plant.

Popsicle Stick Campfire Craft

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $10 or less

Make this fun and easy campfire popsicle stick craft for summer. It is perfect for kids of all ages. With a few simple materials, create a cute little campfire!

Materials

  • Campfire Popsicle Stick Craft Template
  • 3 Jumbo Popsicle Craft Sticks
  • Cardstock Paper in Red, Orange, Yellow, and Pink
  • 2 Googly Eyes
  • Acrylic Craft Paint in Dark Brown and Tan
  • Black Washable Marker

Tools

  • Paintbrush
  • Glue Stick
  • Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (or tacky craft glue)
  • Scissors
  • Pencil

Instructions

  1. Print the campfire template and cut out the different flame sizes.
  2. Using scissors, cut both rounded ends from only one jumbo craft stick. Then, cut one rounded end from two jumbo craft sticks. (The logs will still look great if you skip cutting the ends off.)
  3. Paint the jumbo craft sticks with a dark brown base coat. These will be the campfire logs. Let them dry and apply a second coat of paint, if necessary. 
  4. Once the log sticks are dry, use tan (or light brown) to paint circles on the remaining two rounded ends of the two jumbo craft sticks. Let them dry, and apply a second coat if needed. 
  5. With a black marker, draw random lines along the “logs” to resemble tree bark. Draw a spiral circle over the tan/light brown ends to resemble tree rings. 
  6. Now, stack the three craft stick logs on top of each other in a crisscross pattern and glue them in place with a glue gun. You can use liquid craft glue for this project but must wait for it to dry.
  7. Trace the largest flame template onto the red cardstock, the middle flame template onto the orange cardstock, and the smallest flame template onto the yellow paper. 
  8. Cut out all three of the flame shapes.
  9. Then layer the campfire flames on top of each other from largest in the back to smallest in the front. Use a glue stick to secure the layers in place. 
  10. Next, flip the campfire logs over and attach the flames to the top edge of the unpainted back with a glue gun.
  11. If you do not wish to give the fire an adorable kawaii face, stop here, and the project is complete.
  12. To make the cute face, trace the small circle cheek templates onto pink cardstock and cut them out.
  13. Glue the pink cheeks on either side of the yellow flame with a glue stick. Then draw a smile on the campfire flame’s face from cheek to cheek with a black marker.
  14. Finally, attach two large googly eyes to the campfire flame. Now you have a cute little campfire!

Notes

If you do not want to use paint, you can color the popsicle sticks using washable markers, crayons, or even colored pencils instead.

You may skip cutting the ends off of the craft sticks.

You may use craft glue instead of a hot glue gun, but there will be additional drying time.

Recommended Products

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Did you make this project?

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